The birds dropped hurrying homeward notes, and the cows were coming in from the pasture.
I was going after our cow, but I leaned a long time on the bars and looked at the new moon timidly showing herself in the west.

Then I looked at my clumsy gown, and thick shoes, and large hands, and thought of the graceful, elegant man, who had not bowed to me insolently.

I imagined that a gentleman used to city life must find our country ways tiresome.
I pitied him, but what could I do?
"Once in the meadows I was following up the brook to find cardinal flowers.

The brook wound through a little wood; and as I was passing, looking closely among the flags and pickerel-wood, I suddenly heard a voice close to me--'The lobelia blossoms are further on, Miss Jane.' I knew instantly who it was, and I was conscious of being more scarlet than the flowers I was seeking.
"Well, dear," said Mrs.Simcoe, after pausing for a few moments, "I can not repeat every detail.

The time came when I was not afraid to speak to him--when I cared to speak to no one else--when I thought of him all day and dreamed of him all night--when I wore the ribbons he praised, and the colors he loved, and the flowers he gave me; when he told me of the great life beyond the village, of lofty and beautiful women he had known, of wise men he had seen, of the foreign countries he had visited--when he twined my hair around his finger and said, 'Jane, I love you!'" Her eyes were excited, and her voice was hurried, but inexpressibly sad.
Hope sat by, and the tears flowed from her eyes.
"A long, long time.